Lift rod for flush tank valve



y 7, 1968 J. M. HANSEN, JR 3,381,314

LIFT ROD FOR FLUSH TANK VALVE Filed Sept. 24, 1965 V 40 54 Fig.2 32 [-79.3

John M. Hansen, Jr.

INVENTOR. 36 BY i/ 36 g/ W; 'w

United States Patent 3,381,314 LIFT ROD FOR FLUSH TANK VALVE John M. Hansen, Jr., 33 Manor Drive, Rochester, N.Y. 14617 Filed Sept. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 489,859 3 Claims. (Cl. 4-57) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The herein disclosed concept pertains, generally stated, to a flush tank ball, a pivoted trip lever, a fixed guide bracket therebetween, and an improved operating connection between the ball and lever. The operating connection" is characterized by (l) a lifting rod and (2) a linking chain between the lever and rod. Novelty is predicated on the rod in that it is a replacement for the currently used copper or equivalent metal rod. It is made of fluorocarbon resin, Teflon for example, and is bendably resilient, chemically stable, has a low coefficient of friction, is self-lubricating, non-sealing, will not become sticky or gummy, and insures unhampered operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a toilet bowl flush tank and, more particularly, to an improved operating connection between the usual manually controlled trip lever and buoyant tank ball or valve which is oriented and cooperable with a valve seat provided therefor at the intake end of the discharge water conduit at the bottom of the tank.

The commonly used linking and operating connection embodies a straight metal rod whose lower end is screwed into a threaded socket provided, as usual, at the top of the tank ball, whose median portion is slidable through guide eyes on a bracket secured to the overflow pipe and whose upper end is linked by a chain or equivalent means to the conventional trip lever. The fact that the rod is subject to objectionable scale deposition, deformation or other defects, that the usual guide eyes for the rod may be poorly made or out of proper alignment, or that the tank ball may be unsuitable for reliable operation has posed a long endured opera-ting problem, one which calls for a practical solution. Accordingly, the chief objective in the instant matter is to cope with and effectively solve the problem and attending difficulties.

To the over-all end result desired, at least one, but preferably both component parts of the tank ball operating connection are taken into account here. Although of secondary significance the upper component or part comprises a bead-chain which, it is submitted, will last indefinitely but, as above suggested, is auxiliary to the main feature; namely, a new and facile rod which constitutes a permanent and trouble-free unique substitute for the currently objectionable and ineflicient copper or equivalent metal rod.

More specifically, the improved suitably flexible rod is unique in that it is made of fluorocarbon resin (Teflon for example) which is known to be chemically stable, has a low coefficient of friction and is such that it does not react unfavorably to the tank water or chemicals con tained therein. Consequently, the surfaces of the rod remain intact. Then, too, the rod surfaces remain free from accumulation and deposition of scale-laden matter and promote and assure unhampered gliding of the rod through the usual guide eyes free of friction drag, if any.

Experience has shown that best possible results in keeping with the concept are attainable by using a rod whose surfaces are virtually self-lubricating. Accordingly, the rod is made of Teflon or an equivalent fluorocarbon "ice resin. It follows that the rod has the necessary inherent capability of preventing the accumulation thereon of scale and attending corrosion. Hence, it reciprocates, as required, with no difficulty,

In addition, the rod is flexibly resilient and functions to direct the floatable tank ball to its seat and yet allows for deviations where the ball might not otherwise achieve reliable seating. This self-adapting follow-through action is had even when the guide bracket or guide eyes thereon are misaligned. The rod is wear-free and does not subject the guide eyes to wear. Consequently, and taking under consideration the various aspects of the all-inclusive problem, this innovation well serves the purposes for which it has been devised and perfected.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective showing a conventional-type flush tank with the front wall broken away and showing the improved operating connection between the trip lever, and ball tank valve and how it is constructed and adapted to achieve the improved end results desired;

FIGURE 2 is a view in elevation of the improved lift rod by itself; and

FIGURE 3 is a modification involving the upper end only of the rod.

Referring now to the views of the drawing and particularly to FIGURE 1 it will be seen that the conventionaltype flush tank is denoted by the numeral 6. As usual, the tank is provided at its bottom 8 with a discharge or drain conduit 10 extending into the tank and communicating with a valve seat 12 for a common form of ball tank or valve 14. In order to illustrate the use and advantages of the invention this view also shows an overflow pipe 16 communicatively joined as at 18 to the mouth of the discharge conduit. The aforementioned guide means is denoted generally at 20 and comprises a bracket having clamp means 22 mounted on the overflow pipe and having a horizontal laterally projecting arm 24 terminating in a fork head provided with registering guide eyes 26. The cooperating end portion of the trip lever is denoted at 28. The operating connection, the improvement herein under consideration, is denoted, as an entity, by the numeral 30. The main component part comprises a novel lift rod 32 whose flexibly yieldable median portion is freely slidable through the guide eyes and whose lower end portion 34 is screw-threaded as at 36 (FIG. 2) and screwed into the usual axial socket in the top or crown portion 38 of the tank ball or valve 14. The upper end of the rod is flattened or spatulated as at 40 and provided with an aperture 42 of suflicient size to accommodate a bead chain or the like 44 connected at its lower end 46 to the eye 42 and connected at its upper end as at 48 to the trip lever 28. The significance of the improved rod 32, that is, the feature which makes it novel, is the fact that it is made of Teflon or an equivalent fluorocarbon resin. This Teflon rod 32 and linking chain 44 provide the desired operating connection between the trip lever 28 and the tank ball or valve 14.

The improved lifting rod remains free of depositions of scale and is also non-corrodible. It is free to reciprocate through the guide eyes 26 without the likelihood of sticking thereto and lends itself to use in virtually all commonly used flush tanks. This lifting rod is of a material which is chemically stable under all conditions and in the presence of all solutions which might be encountered and hence will not enter into any chemical ailinity with any other chemicals in the tank water and therefore, it has been found to be substantially self-lubricating in that it has an extremely low coeflicient of friction. Accordingly, it does not stick in the guide eyes. Then, too, this rod is possessed of a desirable degree of rigidity required to direct the floatable ball to its seat and yet accommodates the slight deviations which occur and will compensate for misalignment of the guide eyes or an improper position of the guide bracket on the overflow pipe. It can be utilized in lieu of and as a substitute for presently used rods and therefore does not require any changes in existing or stock parts commonly used.

It is within the purview of the invention to make the rod with the flattened upper end shown in FIG. 2 as at 40. Further, it is within the scope of the invention to form the upper end portion 54 with a return bend which in turn is fashioned into an eye 56 to accommodate the connectible end of the linking chain 44. It follows that all of the slight modifications appearing in FIGS. 2 and 3 are nominal and require no further description.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use in conjunction with a toilet bowl flush tank having water discharge means communicatively joined to the tanks bottom and having an intake end located within the confines of the water storage compartment of said tank and provided with a tank ball seat and an adjacent upstanding overflow pipe, a buoyant tank ball seated atop said seat, guide means bracketed on said pipe at a level above said seat and tank ball, and a trippable ball actuating lever mounted for operation in said compartment; an improved operating connection between said lever and tank ball embodying a vertically reciprocable rod connected at a lower end to and for lifting said ball from its seat, the median portion of said rod being guidingly and shiftably operable in said guide means, said rod being made of fluorocarbon resin, Teflon for example, being of conventional length and cross-section, bendably resilient and self-adapting to said guide means even if slightly misaligned, chemically stable, having a low coeflicient of friction, being self-lubricating, non-scaling, and possessed 4 of the over-all inherent properties needed to efficaciously cope with hardness characteristics of the tank water and deformities, if any, in the tank ball, whereby to provide an improved long-lasting trouble-free rod.

2. For use in conjunction with a conventional flush tank ball valve: an improved lifting and lowering rod for said ball valve designed and adapted to be used in lieu of and as a replacement for the conventional rigid copper or equivalent metal lifting rod, said improved rod corresponding in length and cross-section to said conventional rod but being uniquely made of fluorocarbon resin, Teflon for example, being normally straight but flexible and bendable to conformingly adapt itself to misaligned guide means or a deformed poorly seatable ball valve and being chemically stable, self-lubricating, non-scaling, hav ing a low coeflicient of friction and accordingly such that the likelihood of the rod sticking in the usual vertical guides is reduced to an acceptable minimum.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a flush tank ball lifting and lowering rod corresponding in length and cross-section with a conventional rigid metal ball lift rod, having a screw-threaded lower end capable of being screwed into the usual screw-threaded socket of said tank ball and having means at its upper end for the attachment thereto of a lever-controlled rod-operating chain or the like, said rod being normally straight but structurally and functionally unique in that it is made from an appropriate grade of moldable fluorocarbon resin whereby it is flexible and resilient, is self-bending to conformingly adapt itself to misaligned guide means or a deformed poorly seatable ball valve and being chemically stable, self-lubricating, non-scaling, having a low coefficient of friction and accordingly such that the likelihood of the rod sticking in the usual vertical guides is reduced to an acceptable minimum.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,588,072 3/1952 Bachli et al 467 2,626,400 1/1953 Castellano 467 2,679,651 6/1954 Pokorny 467 2,680,248 6/1954 Stewart 467 2,724,838 11/1955 Wirth et al 467 2,894,264 7/1959 Walter 457 2,931,049 4/1960 Ohnstad 457 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

D. MASSENBERG, Assistant Examiner. 

